mbed up to the hole, where he
held the smoking turf before him, to keep off the bees from his naked
body, and clinging tightly with his legs, he proceeded to ply the axe so
vigorously, and with such skill, that the rotten bark soon gave way, the
tree being little more than a shell, and he laid bare range upon range
of the beautiful comb.

A little more tearing away of the bark was necessary, and then Coffee
descended for a pail and a knife, dispensing now with his burning turf,
and going up to return with the pail full of delicious comb.

This was turned into the General's tub, and the boy ascended again,
filled his pail and descended, and once more going up filled the other.

The General then solemnly took a piece of the comb and placed it in the
fork of a tree for the honey-guide, assuring those who looked on, that
it was necessary to propitiate the bird and pay it for its services--a
plan of which the little thing seemed highly to approve, for it flew to
the comb at once, and began to feed.

Enough having been procured to fill the pails and tub, Chicory,
evidently approving of his brother's sticky state, went up the tree in
turn, and cut out three combs for present use, offering some to each of
his masters, and then dividing the remainder between his father,
brother, and self.

In fact, after removing to a little distance from the hive-tree, all sat
down and had a good feast of the delicious honey, Coffee and Chicory
grinning with delight as they munched up the wax and sweet together.

"Well, of all the sticky objects I ever saw, they beat everything," said
Dick, laughing. "Why, Coffee's all over honey."

"Yes, tick all over," said the boy, rubbing his finger down his chest,
and then sucking it, for he had got to be pretty thickly smeared in
carrying the honey down.

"Didn't the bees sting?" said Jack.

"Only tiddlum's back;" said Coffee, giving himself a writhe.

"Yes, tiddlum's back," said Chicory, applying honey to three or four
places upon his arms. "Don't mind."

"No, don't mind," assented Coffee; and they filled their mouths full of
honey and wax and cried, "Good, good, good."

They had spent so long over the journey for the honey that evening was
coming on fast as they began to ride slowly back, Dick and Jack making
excursions here and there in search of something fresh as they crossed a
bushy plain strewn with great masses of stone, which rendered their
progress very slow, any attempt at a tro